Jharkhand Assembly Elections Phase 2 LIVE: 12.71 per cent voter turnout till 9 am, Pakur records highest

The second phase of Assembly elections is underway for 38 seats in Jharkhand. The Election Commission of India (ECI) reported a voter turnout of 12.71 per cent till 9 am.

Here is constituency-wise voter turnout:

• Bokaro: 12.48%
• Deoghar: 14.24%
• Dhanbad: 12.76%
• Dumka: 14.48%
• Giridih: 12.69%
• Godda:  Yet to come
• Hazaribagh: 14.02%
• Jamtara: 14.90%
• Pakur: 16.12%
• Ramgarh: 15.87%

Jharkhand BJP President Babulal Marandi cast his vote at a polling booth in Giridih. Speaking to the media, he also urged everyone to exercise their franchise. "This is a festival of democracy and we get this opportunity to vote for the development of the state once in 5 years. The main issues are infiltration, unemployment. CM Soren has betrayed the youth. We have appealed to the youth to support the NDA this time," he added. 

Raj Sinha, the BJP candidate from the Dhanbad Assembly constituency, expressed confidence that his party will emerge victorious in the ongoing Jharkhand Assembly elections. Speaking about the voter turnout, Sinha said, "As per the current trend and seeing the huge number of voters, it is clear that BJP is going to form its government in this election." He also defended the BJP's focus on issues like infiltration from Bangladesh, stating, "We raised the issue of Bangladesh (infiltrators) because it is the truth, and the people need to know about it and its consequences." 

As polling for the second phase of the Assembly elections is underway in Jharkhand, Nalin Soren, JMM MP from Dumka, said he wants to continue with his tradition of voting early. "Whoever is elected as the MLA, I would like to tell them to carry on with the tradition...People would vote on the issue of development...My government would remain in power," he added. 

Voters were seen lined up early at polling stations for the second and final phase of the Jharkhand Assembly elections. People patiently waited for their turn to cast their votes. The second phase of polling involves key constituencies across the state, with the Election Commission emphasising arrangements to ensure smooth voting. The turnout is expected to reflect the public's engagement in shaping the state's political future.

The voting began across 38 seats amid tight security. The polling in the state will continue till 5 pm.  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called upon the people of Jharkhand to enthusiastically participate in the second and final phase of the Assembly elections, which is being held today, November 20. Highlighting the significance of every vote, he encouraged citizens to set a new record for voter turnout. "Today is the second and last phase of the great festival of democracy in Jharkhand. I urge all the voters to participate enthusiastically in this and create a new record of voting. On this occasion, I especially congratulate all my young friends who are going to vote for the first time. Your every vote is the strength of the state," he posted on X. 

Bharatiya Janata Party's Jharkhand chief Babulal Marandi has expressed confidence in the NDA coalition securing more than 51 seats in the ongoing Jharkhand Assembly elections. Speaking on the campaign trail, Marandi claimed that the public sentiment in the state strongly favours a change, citing dissatisfaction with the Hemant Soren-led JMM government over the past five years. “The mood of the people is clear; they want to end the pain they have endured under the current administration. There is widespread discontent due to the lack of progress and allegations of corruption," Marandi added. 

Ahead of the second phase of voting in Jharkhand, mock polling is being conducted at several polling stations to ensure the smooth functioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs). This procedural step is crucial for verifying the accuracy and readiness of the voting equipment before polling officially begins.

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) K Ravi Kumar has confirmed that all preparations for the second phase of voting in the Jharkhand Assembly elections have been successfully completed. Polling personnel have been dispatched to all designated booths to ensure a smooth start to the electoral process. A total of 1.23 crore voters, including 60.79 lakh women and 147 third-gender voters, are eligible to cast their votes today. The electorate will decide the fate of 528 candidates, which includes 472 men, 55 women, and one candidate identifying as third gender.

The second phase of Jharkhand's Assembly elections is set to be a decisive one, with the electoral fate of several prominent leaders, including Chief Minister Hemant Soren and his wife Kalpana Soren of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), hanging in the balance. Leader of Opposition Amar Kumar Bauri of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is also in the fray, along with over 500 candidates vying for 38 seats out of the state’s total 81 constituencies.

Polling is scheduled to begin at 7 am in 14,218 polling stations and will continue till 5 pm barring 31 booths where it will end at 4 pm. Eighteen of the 38 constituencies going to polls in the final round are in the Santhal Pargana region comprising six districts - Godda, Deoghar, Dumka, Jamtara, Sahibganj and Pakur.The first phase of the elections was held on November 13.

As many as 38 constituencies will go to polls today in the second phase of the Jharkhand Assembly elections. 

• Rajmahal
• Borio (ST)
• Barhait (ST)
• Litipara (ST)
• Pakaur
• Maheshpur (ST)
• Sikaripara (ST)
• Nala
• Jamtara
• Dumka (ST)
• Jama (ST)
• Jarmundi
• Madhupur
• Sarath
• Deoghar SC)
• Poreyahat
• Godda
• Mahagama
• Ramgarh
• Mandu
• Dhanwar
• Bagodar
• Jamua (SC)
• Gandey
• Giridih
• Dumri
• Gomia
• Bermo
• Bokaro
• Chandankiyari (SC)
• Sindri
• Nirsa
• Dhanbad
• Jharia
• Tundi
• Baghmara
• Silli
• Khijri (ST)